Had a fairly sassy encounter with a security operative at Gatwick South last month when the metal detector randomly selected me and I opted out. Got the usual 'you can't do that' stuff. Supervisor promptly arrived and was faultless.

The metal detectors were beeping well over 50% of people, instead of the 15% or whatever it's supposed to be.

What is the actual procedure for patting down someone who opts out? The treatment I received was just a regular pat down and a once over with a metal detector. Is that standard?